BSHS girls soccer draws Christ Prep

Give Bonner Springs a couple of inches, and it is a completely different match.

While the girl’s soccer team lamented about the shots that ricocheted off the goalpost, it had to settle for a 2-2 draw against visiting Christian Preparatory Academy.

The Braves had enough to deal with coming in after losing several key players to injury the past couple of weeks.

Skyler Taylor, an main offensive threat, and Anna Deegan, a relentless defender, will both miss the season because of ACL injuries. Another starter, Kayla Fratzel, has a concussion and back-up keeper Kennedy Bizzell is also injured.

“We’re kind of disappointed because we could have had it,” freshman Shelby Taylor said. “We had a lot of shots that were missed. We had three hit the goal.”

Overall, however, the Braves (7-5-1) did not look like themselves. In the first period alone, three scoring opportunities bounced off the goal post. The Patriots were able to get a 2-0 lead into halftime.

“I think we got kind of exhausted,” junior Jessica Moulin said. “We just kept shooting and shooting and we weren’t making anything. Plus it was an off day.”

The second half was more of the same until the 21st minute until Hannah Hunt replaced Yessenia Hernandez at goalkeeper. The Braves were lagging and needed a spark.

The offense did show signs of life and finally caught a break at the 17:45 mark when Shelby Taylor floated one over the defenders and goalkeeper for the Braves’ first goal of the game. With just under six minutes left to play, Jessica Moulin added another to tie the game.

Neither team could get it going in overtime or double overtime, leading to a draw. The girls were the first to admit that they had an off day, given the long weekend and Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. start time.

Regardless, this was an opportunity for players in new positions to gain experience. Hunt, for one, had to replace Skyler Taylor’s offense and later played goalie for the first time on varsity.

Moulin said she was nervous before going in, but she had a couple of saves and didn’t allow a goal before Hernandez came back in with four minutes left in regulation.

Tessa Newberry will have to replace Deegan’s defensive prowess going forward as well. Moulin said the girls stepping up are doing a nice job.

The Braves will play host to Spring Hill on Thursday before going to De Soto on Monday and Mill Valley on Tuesday.

Like Tuesday’s game against Christ Preparatory Academy, Bonner Springs knows it can still overcome its recent batch of injuries.

“We knew we were capable of winning,” freshman Shelby Taylor said. “A lot of people had to step up, a lot of JV players, and they did.”